Blood Donation is a Community Responsibility

Courtesy of the Coastal Carolina Medical Center

very 2 seconds someone in the United States needs blood. That amounts to approximately 38,000 pints of blood needed every day in the US. Hospitals and emergency treatment facilities use blood to care for patient with cancer and other diseases, for organ transplant recipients, and to help save the lives of accident victims. Burn victims, premature infants and people with blood disorders and anemia are also in need of blood and blood products.

As much as 60% of the US population is eligible to donate blood, but as little as 5% actually do. While it is safe to donate blood every 56 days – or 6 times a year – the majority of donors only give 2-3 times a year. As a result, there are often times with blood centers experience critical shortages. For example, national blood supplies reach critically low levels during the winter holidays and summer months. Despite advances in modern medicine, there is no substitute for human blood. Healthy donors are the only source for the millions of people who receive blood each year.

Giving blood is a simple process that has enormous positive impact. In fact, donating 1 pint of blood can save up to 3 lives...maybe even the life of someone you know. The entire process from registration through donation takes approximately 1 hour – about the time it takes to watch your favorite TV show. Whereas the blood collection itself is usually about 10 minutes, the donation process includes registration, a brief medical screening, blood collection and refreshments.

To be eligible to give blood, you must be 17 years or older, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health. Some health conditions or medications may temporarily or permanently prevent persons from donating blood. For more information on these guidelines please refer to “Blood Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)” on the FDA’s website.

Affiliated with the Florida Georgia Blood Alliance, the Lowcountry Community Blood Center is the supplier of blood to Coastal Carolina Medical Center as well as Beaufort Memorial Hospital and Memorial Hospital in Savannah. We invite you to consider the above facts and encourage you to sign up as a donor at an upcoming Lowcountry Community Blood Center drive.